'Hands off our green spaces' is the message from Heston residents who fear park areas in the Brabazon Road Estate will be replaced by flats.

A group of householders have been rallying support in the area after hearing about plans for more housing from Hounslow Homes.

The two areas to be affected are a strip of land on Brabazon Road facing Cranford Lane, and a field between Johnson Lane and Brabazon Road. Hounslow Homes is looking to build a mixed development of 60 social rented properties and private housing on three sites on the estate.

So far, more than 300 people have signed a petition against the application and dozens of protest posters are being displayed in the windows of nearby houses.

Leon Williams, a 46-year-old construction worker from Brabazon Road, is worried about how the loss of green spaces will affect the quality of life for nearby residents.

He said: "These spaces are so important to people, many of them have children who use them. There are also elderly and disabled people who live nearby and would miss them. We do not want anything built on our lovely green spaces."

Terry Noad, 73, who also lives on Brabazon Road, said: "This space is something we look forward to when we come home from work and it is tragic to think that it could be taken away ands built on. We have got 300 signatures, we have been going around and talking to everyone and not one person said they are in support of this."

Kulbir Garcha, 42, of Johnson Road, is a driving instructor. He said: "We are all pretty much agreed, most of us who have found out about these proposals are worried about it."

A spokesman for Hounslow Homes said: "Hounslow Homes has carried out extensive consultation with residents regarding proposals to provide new housing and improvements on the Brabazon Estate.

"Hounslow Homes is at the stage of finalising minor amendments before submitting a Planning Application to the London Borough of Hounslow and the Planning Department will consult residents as part of the normal planning process.

"We completely understand the concerns that a number of residents have about our plans to build on open spaces. We have and will continue to work hard with all the Brabazon Road Estate residents to strike the right balance between providing much needed homes and a pleasant environment in which to live."